How to Pursue Your Dream Job During a Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the job market in the U.S. At the height of the pandemic, the unemployment rate skyrocketed to nearly 15%. While it is back down to about 8% at the moment, many people lost their jobs and either weren’t able to get them back or had to adjust to a different way of working.

If you’ve found yourself out of a job or the pandemic has made you realize you need a change, it might actually be a better time than you think to pursue a different career.

One of the best things you can ask yourself is what your goals are. If you are still employed and you aren’t actively pursuing those goals, you won’t feel fulfilled. If you’re currently unemployed, then you have a clean slate to reach your goals and take active steps toward them.

But, it’s understandable that you might feel a bit uneasy or nervous about pursuing your dream job during such a tumultuous pandemic. So, how can you be successful in your search?

How to Effectively Search for a Job

It starts with knowing exactly how to search for a job. Yes, it can be as easy as going to different job search boards online. But, if you really want to actively pursue a new career, you may need to take a few extra steps to find the right one in a reasonable time frame.

Instead of just scrolling through hundreds of jobs on an online search board, keep some of these tips in mind to stay focused:

• Keep your search focused on the industry you’re interested in
• Build your brand
• Connect with any contacts you might have in that industry
• Network, network, network
• Create a “dream list” of specific companies you would like to work for

Once you’ve got your search narrowed down, it’s time to actually start applying for jobs. Remember how high that unemployment rate got? That means that there are many other people out there also looking for jobs right now. So, your competition may be a bit steeper than usual.

Polishing Up Your Resume

Thankfully, if you’re willing to think outside the box when it comes to your resume, you can stand out from the competition and get noticed by a potential employer. Let’s cover how you can make your resume shine with a few helpful tips.

Resume writing isn’t as easy as jotting down your skills and experience. If you’re trying to step ahead of the competition, making sure your resume is concise, easy-to-read, and has the information employers are looking for can make a big difference. Some key tips to keep in mind include:

• Avoiding generic statements about yourself
• Quantifying your achievements
• Proofreading more than once

You might also want to consider hiring a professional resume writer if you’re worried that your own ability to do it will hinder your job responses. Employers and recruiters only spend an average of six seconds looking at a resume, so doing whatever you can to make sure yours stands out in that short amount of time is a key to moving forward with your dream job.

Which Industries Are Hiring?

While it might seem like the entire job market has taken a hit during COVID-19, there are some industries that have actually seen growth. Others are expected to grow in the coming years, thanks to advancements in technology and an expanding need.

The healthcare industry, for example, has seen some losses during this pandemic, but it is expected to see exponential growth, especially in the tech sphere. Careers in nursing informatics combine healthcare and technology to fulfill responsibilities like:

• Researching and testing new technology
• Assisting with project management
• Acting as a technology translator

There are plenty of other alternative careers in healthcare, so if you want to help people but are a bit squeamish around blood or don’t want to be so “hands-on,” look for healthcare jobs that dip into the tech world.

The healthcare industry isn’t the only one that saw a boost during the pandemic. As people’s necessities started to shift, so did the importance of certain businesses, including those in:

• E-commerce
• Logistics
• Home workout equipment
• Delivery services
• Online streaming services

Of course, your dream job doesn’t have to be in one of these industries. But, if you want to make a change and you’re willing to grow along with these industries over the next several years, you could find significant success working in these sectors.

Things might still seem uncertain when it comes to the effects of COVID-19. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue your dream job. What better time to make a change and start with a clean slate? By going about your search the right way and making sure you stand out above your competition, you can absolutely find your dream job during this pandemic.